Tom Cruise is not only one of the highest-paid action heroes in Hollywood but also one of the most recognized and respected actors in the industry. Because of his Mission Impossible franchise, Cruise has garnered worldwide fame and recognition. However, despite his box-office-breaking career and the schedule that comes with it, he has found the time to chase and cultivate his own hobbies. Not everyone has the opportunity, let alone the will to do so. With every passing decade, he has overturned a new stone in his path and carved out yet another success story for himself. Cruise has turned his Mission Impossible career high into something very tangible.

Tom Cruise at a movie premiereTom Cruise Filmography

The actor first won solid footing in Hollywood because of Top Gun (1986). After that, it has just been one success after another. With Rain Man (1988), Jerry Maguire (1996), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), and Vanilla Sky (2001), he established himself as one of the up-and-coming megastars of the industry.

And the most consistent and recognized role of his career goes to the Mission Impossible franchise. Spanning 30 years of his life and vocation, Tom Cruise, the incredible and dedicated actor has earned a fair share of his popularity as the on-screen agent and spy Ethan Hunt of the Impossible Missions Force.

Tom Cruise in the poster of his new movie Top Gun: Maverick

And devoting so much of one’s life to a role is bound to rub off on a person. Very characteristic of his on-screen alter-ego, Cruise, too, has in the past years found activities capable of matching the skillset of a trained and experienced super agent. With the exception of carrying a license to kill, of course!

License to Kill or License to Fly?

In Top Gun which Cruise filmed in 1986, he played the role of a maverick pilot who flew fighter jets. The actor currently is in possession of a license that allows him to fly a fighter jet — without animation or CGI or suspenders involved. The license enabled him to fly a fighter F-18 on the sets of Top Gun: Maverick. He also possesses another license that sanctions him to fly a commercial plane.

Tom Cruise takes the Late Late talk show host James Corden skydiving

The actor quickly followed in the footsteps of his spy alter-self, Ethan Hunt. Not only is he known to love and perform gravity-defying stunts on set, but actually insists on doing them without the help of his stuntman. He now possesses a sky-diving license. And another that professionally allows him to go underwater diving as well. Cruise is also qualified to handle high displacement motorcycles. And why stop there? The actor also carries a real estate license that allows him to buy and sell properties.

The latest movie of the actor, Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel to the 1986 film, is coming to the theatres on 27 May. Watch the trailer here.